A local animal rescue group said last weekend’s incident in DeKalb County serves as a great reminder for pet owners to bring their pets inside during frigid temperatures.
More than 40 dogs had to be rescued from outdoor cages after long-term neglect. Treasured Souls Animal Rescue Group Owner Maureen Schafer said hearing about the incident is overwhelming. Schafer said the incident is rare but also highlights the sad reality of how often this happens in Tennessee.
“It’s actually everywhere, but not just not in the volume,” Schafer said. “And if you are gonna breed dogs, then you need to really properly take care of them. I mean, it’s a very sad situation, and it’s actually getting to be everywhere you turn.”
Schafer said that when temperatures dip below freezing, that’s when pet owners should bring their pets in. Not only is it against the law to leave pets out in freezing temperatures, but Schafer said pets are just like humans and can suffer immensely if left out in frigid conditions.
“They risk frostbite, hypothermia, you know, it’s just like if you were sitting outside in the cold, unprotected, you know, with no coat on or nothing,” Schafer said. “If they are not properly sheltered, they are gonna get wet, they are gonna get cold, they are gonna freeze.”
Schafer said her group has dealt with some similar situations locally that she just could not get into the details of. Schafer said something needs to change in order to avoid seeing incidents like this continuing in our region.
“In the area that we are in, we only have one shelter, and that’s in Putnam County, and Putnam County will not help Pickett, Overton, Jackson, Clay, and there’s more, ” Schafer said. “So, if you are in any of those areas, you have only law enforcement to try helping to deal with the situation.”
Schafer said sometimes there are dogs that are not comfortable inside the house. Schafer said, along with rescue efforts, her organization has been giving out doghouses this year to help prevent similar incidents.